Inuit Clothes and Other Essentials Drive

November 30, 2012

Providing Pastoral and Sacramental Ministry to all who are living in isolated communities in Canadas North

Inuit Clothes and Essentials Project

Vision To enable the Inuit Community be self-sustaining through a two tiered approach: Outreach: provide immediate essential items for survival and dignity of life: food, clothes and other essential items Sustainment: to support local and national educational and employment opportunities for the Inuit Community so they can live with purpose.

The median income for Inuit adults is much lower than that for all Canadians: $13,699 compared to $22,120. Considering the much higher cost of living in the north, these lower incomes have to go a long way. There are no Walmartses in the Arctic.

Inukjuak Fast Facts

Inukjuak Meaning: The giant Population: 1456 Record Low: - 49.4 C (- 57 F) Innalik is a combined Primary and Secondary School with more than 400 students. Inuuvunga: I Am Inuk, I Am Alive 2004 Documentary 8 Inuit high school students from the school documented their final year in the high school. Daniel Weetaluktuk Museum: the museum exhibits a magnificent collection of Inuit arts and crafts as well as traditional tools, hunting and fishing gear. Robert J. Flaherty filmed Nanook of the North (released 1922) in the area.

The suicide rates among Canadian Inuit is staggering, comparing to some third world and developing nations for years. The suicide rate among Inuit is 11 times higher the national rate with 15 to 24 year old men in Nunavut is 28 times the national rate.

Inukjuak

Inukuak is located on the east coast of Hudson Bay, at the mouth of the Innuksuac River, facing the Hopewell Islands, previously known as Port Harrison. Principle access to Inukjuak is by air. Population approx. 1300, principle languages Inuktitut and English.
Some of the population was moved out of the area in the 1950s and relocated to Resolute Bay, on Cornwallis Island, and Grise Fiord on Ellesmere Island. Years later, compensation was provided to the people involved in this situation. The name "Inukjuak" means "the big man" or the "giant". Inukjuak is a major cultural capital for the Inuit. The Inukjuak Museum and headquarters of Avataq Cultural Institute are both in the community.

Background
Susanna Hunter catalyst for the Inukjuak Essentials Drive, introduced us to her sister-in-laws Aunt, Daughny Langer who has, for over 25 years, fostered over 300 children from Inukjuak, in particular, the children that were sick and had been transported from Inukjuak to Montreal. She raised Siasi Irqmia Smiler, and now as an adult and pillar in her community, she reaches out:
The little ones, new born to 12 years are in desperate need of baby & childrens clothes ages newborn to 12 years (sleepers, blankets, under garments, long johns, socks, boots/shoes, mittens, hats, etc.) and other essentials (baby formula, teething biscuits, baby diapers, baby wipes, baby powder, hand soap, etc.).

Air Inuit provides free transport. Air Inuit offers service from Montreal via Kuujjuarapik and Inukjuak, to Puvirnituq 5 times a week. December 2009 TD Canada Trust started collecting these items. St Pauls Anglican Church and other friends joined in the drive. March 12, 2010 Shipment # 1 63 KG (11 boxes): friends of the Church, Cindy DeSousa, Paula Granton and myself drove the goods to Inuit Air

Our Inukjuak Contact: Siasi Smiler Irqumia

Siasi Smiler Irqumia, born and lives in Inukjuak. She was greatly influenced by her parents who taught her the traditional way of living. She is a printmaker who uses wood and lino to produce limited edition prints. She also does paintings and drawings portraying images of women at work. Isa Aqiattusuk Smiler adopted Siasi. Isa, born in Inukjuak in 1921, both of his parents died from an illness when he was only 9. He began carving in 1948. In 2004, he was named one of the four best carvers by his colleague Johnny Inukpuk. TD Bank has a large collection of Inuit Art and some of Isa Smilers works are in the collection at TD Waterhouse.

Siasi received the shipment April 27th 2010 all was gone within the day.
Re: Your Friend from the South Hi Connie, First let me tell you that I went on the local radio station to read your card and all the names written on it and one lady was super grateful about people we don't even know thinking about us so far from our community Thank you to all of you and thank you for your thoughts for me of my husband, he is doing better, but he is still in MTL, we are always happy to receive more clothes, all the stuff you sent was well received, and gone already first day we got them, I should go now but Im online during the day and not evenings, take care now, Siasi

The Community Connections, September 24, 2011 Packing Party at St Pauls Anglican Church Hall

Daughny Langer, Dylan Smiler Irqmia, Ward 2 Halton Hills Councillor Brian Lewis

Jennifer Birmingham, Susanna Hunter

The Iqaluit Connection

September 24, I met Jennifer Birmingham, Daughnys grand daughter. you should be helping the Iqaluit people she said and connected me with Susan Gardener who in turn introduced me to Mary Ellen Thomas, Iqaluit. Communication1: October 29, 2011 This is exciting and we would be glad to work with you. The more partners the better to help build our cathedral . As you may know it was destroyed by arson in 2005 and badly under insured so we have a long way to go to rebuild. We are also well aware of other needs in the community as the church runs a soup kitchen that usually has over 70 people per day. Various members in our committee also are involved with the womens and mens homeless shelter and other community groups. Years ago there was a program that ran here in Iqaluit called Bare Essentials and then it ran out of money because the cost of freight was so high. Its goal was to provide the Bare Essentials to women and children. Things like hair brushes, socks, toothbrushes, shampoo, toothpaste, pads, diapers, pencils, crayons, colouring books, etc,etc. Clothing is way too heavy and not much return. Things that if you are living on low income are hard to come by. Perhaps we could charge a dollar or two for these items and use them for fundraising. Lets try a few boxes to start and see how it is received in the community. Im excited so lets perhaps have a teleconference and make some plans. Remember there is no Dollar Store in the Arctic. Communication # 2: November 14, 2011 Mary Ellen Thomas, Arctic College, St. Judes parish November 14, 2011 Thank you so much for the good news. I will share it with our committee as we have a meeting planned tonight. We look forward to working together. In our community we also have the First Nations bank that is an affiliate of TD I think. Katherine Gomez is the manager there and I will also have a chat with her to see if she can offer any kind of assistance. Every Blessing, Mary Ellen

Community Outreach Expands

St. Pauls Anglican Church, TD Bank and friends of the Inukjuak continue collecting essential items for the people of the North. TD Bank has selected The Inukjuak Drive as one of two Charitable Organizations for their HR Festive Party Dec 7, 2011 through their Winter Wonderland theme accepting winter clothing and other essential items as well as donations. The Norval United Church donated $500 to support the Inuit Project, $250 used for gas for the November 16, 2011 drive to Inuit Air Norval United is gathering donations for Iqaluit for December 11: hair brushes, socks, toothbrushes, shampoo, toothpaste, pads, diapers, pencils, crayons, colouring books, etc First Air, Ottawa is now part of our connection offering to fly to Iqaluit free freight

Iqaluit
St. Thomas' - Inukjuak, Nunavik: The Anglican mission station was established in 1925. A church was built in 1965 and a new church was constructed in 1985. A rectory was first built in 1951 and a new rectory was constructed in the late 1980s. Church of the Epiphany, Umiujaq is located on the east coast of Hudson Bay, 160 kilometers north of Kuujjuarapik. Principle access to the community is by air. The population is approximately 250 and the principle languages spoken in the community are Inuktitut and English. With access to both a fresh water lake and Hudson Bay, Umiujaq is a site that has a lot of advantages for the practice of traditional Inuit hunting and fishing. This was important when the Nunavik authorities chose the area for the creation of a new village. The village was completed in 1986 and is made up of Inuit who had been living in Kuujjuarapik. "Umiujak" can be translated as "one who looks like bread", "one who looks like an upsidedown boat", or "one who looks like a beard". Traditional hunting and fishing are the principle economic activities in the community. The current incumbent is Rev. Iola Metuq. The rector visits the community once a month.

St. Judes Cathedral, Iqaluit, Nunavut

The Iqaluit Cathedral Story Once upon a time over 35 years ago Ron Thoms, a renowned Canadian architect, designed St. Judes Cathedral which was later built by a team of volunteers headed by Markosie Peter. This magnificent building became one of the main landmarks in Frobisher Bay until a 2005 fire destroyed it along with its Handmade Tapestries, Bishops Chair, Pastoral Staff, Holy Table, Narwhal Tusk Cross, Sealskin cushions, Qamotik Communion Rails and Pulpit, to name a few of the items. A new design, similar to the original one, was approved and is currently being built with the latest energy saving technology and a larger footprint to allow seating for over 400 people. It is designed to meet the Arctics spiritual and cultural needs into the next millennium. STANDING TOGETHER St. Judes has a strong sense of itself as a community of faith, called by God, united in Christ, lead by the Holy Spirit. It has been what the Bishop of the Arctic, Andrew Atagotaaluk, has described as a place of peace and comfort for parishioners of this Arctic diocese.

VISION Two fundraising committees have been formed: one at the Diocese of the Arctic office in Yellowknife and our local one in Iqaluit. The costs estimated in excess of $6m and considering the small population of the Diocese of the Arctic (Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Nunavik), we cannot do this on our own. We need your help! Be a part of this great story. Heritage Canada Foundation included St. Judes in their worst loss list in 2007.

For information or to make a donation: St. Judes Rebuilding Fund, c/o Anglican Church, Box 57, Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0 Telephone: 1-867-979-5595 Facebook Page: Friends of St. Judes http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/247065565322656/ Email: sgardener@northwestel.net Income Tax RECEIPTS provided. The Cathedral is, again, a focal point from different locations in our City. Temporary church/Parish Hall is the grey building/ green trim on the right. Our next fundraising effort is to pay for the electrical, plumbing, etc., as well as all the contents

January 29, 2011 Shipment # 2 Inuit Airport Cargo Bay

210KG (37 boxes) were collected and shipped to Inukjuak via Inuit Air. We have received the boxes, all are long gone and if and when you are ready to send more boxes please let me know. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Siasi

Busy Volunteers!

From Mary Ellen Thomas, Iqaluit November 2, 2011 I thought you might be interested in this news item on CBC radio. It is shocking that in this town of 6000 people that over our local food bank has to supply food for over 500 people per month and the soup kitchen feeds over 70 adults and children per day. Food bank organizers say Bank a Treat campaign was a success Food bank organizers in Iqaluit say their Halloween Bank a Treat campaign was a success. Jen Hayward is Co-chair of the Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank and helped to coordinate the food drive on Sunday. She says volunteers couldn't visit all the homes in the capital because vehicles filled up fast. And our volunteers went around trick-or-treating to various houses and collected over 4,000 individual items. And thats, thats just a ballpark figure. We couldnt count that high. Yesterday Food Banks Canada released its annual hunger count survey. It showed an 80% increase in food bank use in all three territories since 2008. Thats the largest increase in food bank usage in the country. In October Hayward says the food bank in Iqaluit provided food for more than 500 people. Right now she says there are only six formal food banks in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon.

Shipment # 3: November 15, 2011 208 KG (40 boxes) shipped to Inukjuak through Inuit Air

The Need is Great!

The Fourth Drive: Clothes and Other Essential Items over one ton and 129 boxes of goods was driven to Inuit Air Montreal on Dec 16, 2011 along with 40 boxes (over 300KG) to First Air, Ottawa for the community of Iqaluit. George Gastle and Paula Granton her friend Cary and myself drove to these two airports. This would not have been possible without the generosity of a $200 donation from St Stephens of the Anglican cluster church, $805 from TD Bank and $500 from Norval United Church. We were able to rent a 20 foot cube van along with our regular van, to pay for gas to and from Norval to Ottawa to Montreal and home again. Also the generosity of Doug and Jennifer in Picton who each time put us up for the night, feed and water us and get us on our way again. Mary Ellen Thomas of St Judes Cathedral, Iqaluit received the shipment on Dec 21, just in time for Christmas!

Next Steps
Cluster Committee: Form a committee amongst our Anglican cluster to have greater and faster positive outcomes Fund Raising Liaise with companies that can support through cash donations and items for essential life support; Develop relationships and a sense of understanding of the situation in the North through education of existing programs: Existing Aboriginal (Inuit) programs, Corporate Responsibility Programs, Federal, Christian and/or other religious outreach programs. Purchase movie through NFB Inuuvunga: I Am Inuk, I Am Alive Documentary. Filmed in Inukjuak by high school students, chronicles their efforts to learn how to come of age in a rapidly changing culture, while coping with issues like suicide and substance abuse. Work with our partners to develop an evaluation plan to measure the impact of this outreach program to enable funding from private and non private entities.